What was the last year Lexus made the SC400?
The last model year for the Lexus SC400 was 1998.
Context and timeline
The SC400 belongs to Lexus’s X100 first-generation grand tourer, a two-variant line that paired a V8-powered SC400 with a six-cylinder SC300 during the same era. The SC400 used the 4.0-liter 1UZ-FE V8 and was sold in markets around the world, including the United States, throughout the early to late 1990s. After 1998, Lexus did not continue the SC400 in the United States or most markets, and the nameplate eventually evolved into a new generation of SC models later in the 2000s.
Key production milestones for the SC400 include the following:
- 1992 model year: The SC400 was introduced to North America as the V8-powered variant of the X100, marking Lexus’s first dedicated Grand Tourer with a 4.0L V8.
- 1998 model year: The SC400 reached its final production run, ending the model’s run in most markets.
- 2002 model year: Lexus debuted the SC430, a new generation of the SC line with a retractable hardtop, effectively replacing the SC series as Lexus’s grand tourer lineup in the next era.
These milestones illustrate the SC400’s lifecycle: a 1990s-era V8 Grand Tourer that concluded its production in 1998, followed by a later-generation successor in the SC lineup more than a few years later.
Engine, design and performance notes
The SC400 was powered by a 4.0-liter 1UZ-FE V8, a hallmark of Lexus engineering at the time, delivering smooth power for long-distance cruising. Its styling was characteristic of early- to mid-1990s luxury coupes, blending Lexus reliability with a performance-oriented chassis that aimed to compete with European rivals in the grand tourer segment. The later SC430 would adopt a different platform and a retractable hardtop, signaling a shift in design direction for Lexus’ flagship coupe.
Market and successor context
Globally, the SC400’s production ended in the late 1990s, with the next dedicated SC model not arriving until the SC430 appeared for the 2002 model year. The gap between generations reflected shifts in design priorities, technology, and the broader market for luxury coupes at the turn of the century.
Summary
